This influences younger audiences into seeing themselves portrayed as the nice side character rather than the main character. This subtly belittles the race and degrades their influence. These characters all have one thing in common: they dont particularly have a significant roleor an interesting plotline in these movies or TV shows. She is flawless to the point of being unreal. It shouldnt be about appearing diverse. It should be about hiring the actors qualified for the role, which in turn, means when a black actor is perfectly qualified, they have every bit of a chance as the next person to receive the role for their talent and not because of affirmative action. He actually worked with a white guy in the first season of the show, then went a couple of of seasons working alone, before hiring a kid that was from Polk High named Aaron. Diversity should not be a policy or guideline; it should be a natural occurrence. This at least Black people are booking roles in Blockbuster films and famous TV shows, Why White Privileged Men Brand Angry Anti-Racist Women Hysterical, eeing how little Hollywood cared about casting Black people, Black people shouldnt be casted for roles just for the cast to appear diverse., TV Director Calls James Corden 'Most Difficult & Obnoxious' Celebrity He's Worked With In His 25-Year Career, Makeup Artist Reveals Her 'Rude' Encounter With Kevin Spacey While Applying Fake Mustache To His Face On Set, Fans Fear Disgraced Nickelodeon Producer Dan Schneider Fathered Jamie Lynn Spears's Daughter After Seeing Comparison Photos, 6 Ways To Be An Ally For Asian-Americans Right Now. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Andy: Oh, we've only had one conversation, but I can tell we're gonna be life-long friends. Change). Captain Newer series/movies such as The Chill It also reminds me of a quote I once saw (although I dont exactly remember who said it) that having a minority role does not mean that the production should expect a large minority following in return; one role does not mean the same as cultural acceptance on the bigger screen. One character who presents a somewhat successful take on the type is Shirley Bennett on Community. Subverting the usual implication of the character being broad-minded, both Draco and Blaise are pretty big. It wouldve been so amazing to see more representation for minorities in the media while I was growing up, but it is still pretty great that we have this growing diversity now. Were definitely far from the representation we deserve but I do believe were getting there! Dionne, also known as Dee, was fierce in her Blackness and unapologetic. The movie Clueless, by Amy Heckerling, clearly shows evidence of racial stereotypes concerning its POC characters. being someone there just to add diversity to a cast. But not only that, these movies/TVshows will have much better content, and can become richer, more complexand just as successful. And quite honestly I loved Stacey Dashs character (still do!). Dwayne from GTAIV (provided you let him live), who is one of the nicest characters in the game. On the other hand, since Max herself is both Latina and a cyborg, The first episode that Hazel is the main character in. Weve obviously come a long way since Mammy, but the fact that shades of this type still exist in some of todays most popular television shows and movies speaks to an ongoing idea of black femininity and identity that we wouldnt even be able to scratch the surface of here. Instead of casting the black actor [black driver is forced to the ground and a pistol is pointed at his cranium; arrow caption says "Not A Ticket"], A touching real life example is the friendship between the late Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, both football players. important because they see themselves as a secondary character in their favorite The angle of this piece is somewhat clear; they believe that Ebony magazine is a trailblazer for successful, black magazines and is a part of history. When I watch black characters I want it to be relatable, I want to see conflict, mental health issues, family drama, but also the good stuff as well, like dating, promotions, starting a family, etc. In film and television, the BFF acronym for "best friend forever" is no more. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. This attracts a broader audience, which brings in more money to studios. In our reality, our world is diverse. I think the show tried a little harder than most shows to make the minority best friend more three-dimensional. We've picked friendships of all kinds, like "Harry Potter" trio and Cher and Dionne from " Clueless ." Not comic relief. That's what white heroes are for.) Captain American/Steve Rogers and Falcon/Sam Wilson. She has a cell phone, and never ignores your calls. Shes refreshing in many ways, a fan favorite, and a hilarious addition to the show, but she has yet to have her own, real story line. Please enter a valid email and try again. Good. The whole "Sassy Black Woman" or "Black Best Friend" thing has its roots in the classic film eras of the 30s, 40s, and 50s, when most black actresses could expect to play slaves, maidsand little else. There are many variations on the type some less or more sassy than others but always at the core of the character is the fact that she isnt a character but a caricature of the black woman. Rose Catherine Pinkney, a television executive, told the, This doesnt mean that there cant be black best friends in movies. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. The angle can be identified throughout the piece, but it is kind of hard to fully understand their position. However, this doesnt mean this trope still doesnt affect me. In this day and age, it has been and still is time to see change made. (heres the link in case you want to give it a read, its truly fantastic http://appiah.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Is-the-post-in-postmodernism-the-Post-in-Postclonial-Critical-Inquiry-17.2.-1991.pdf). Do I have my own story? Your black best friend is sassy. White people are not the superior race simply because there is no such thing as a superior race. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. on how he realized at a cocktail party that most of his friends were white. He tried to remedy this by putting an ad for himself on Craigslist for a black friend. Somewill argue that at least Black people are booking roles in Blockbuster films and famous TV shows, and theyre not wrong; that's progress. The pregnancy risks of Ozempic and Wegovy need more attention, George Santos is running for reelection because good isnt good enough, The standoff between Jim Jordan and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, explained. Worst of all they could sometimes be forgettable because the spotlight isnt on them at the end of the day. Something went wrong. Yes, Beyonc is a cultural icon with impressive clout. For members of a generation who watched it during their formative years (and then rewound it and watched again and again), the seemingly flighty comedy revealed some way existential truths. Originally posted . Heckerling's strategy paved the way for more teen-centric updates of classics both great (10 Things I Hate About You, Cruel Intentions) and not so much (the less said about O and She's the Man, the better). Even The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, business people use the same tactics in real life, replaced Dana as the love interest by the end, mixed-race children have no real place in society, https://allthetropes.org/w/index.php?title=Black_Best_Friend&oldid=1951894, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license, Jim Rhodes: friend and employee of Tony Stark aka. Her only independent moment is to be annoyed that she's cast in a minor role in the school play. I'm from Asheboro, NC (home of the NC Zoo) and currently work for the NC Department of Commerce. Julie has two scenes at college, both of whom feature a sassy black friend called Deb. Although, it definitely should be improved. Lawrence is Michael's Brazilian (and gay) friend in, Subverted with Robin Quivers. She's been the news anchor and a co-host of. The black bestie is usually stagnant. Those characters: what I gravitated to was how positive they could be.". And to those fans I say please, dont hate the playa hate the game (and in this case I guess the game is the writers of the show). All that being said, the token black friend (or BBF) is a stereotype that has mostly been weeded out due to minorities seeking roles of higher acclaim. While diversity is becoming more prominent through Hollywood Films, there are many evident stereotypes for African Americans in film. His Grandma is a Sassy Black Woman who can out funk anyone. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Even now I can find myself evaluating my closest friendships and trying to ask myself if I'm the token minority. She said the studio "kept pressuring me to create more of a life for the boys in the film, to create more of an ensemble piece, which didn't make sense to me at all.". Films like the timeless teen comedy 16 Candles or last year's. While the white protagonists grow and evolve as people throughout the series or film. We all love the Gallaghers, but "Shameless" is as guilty as the rest of them. The token black friend or black bestie is that girl that hand-holds and acts as the support system to the white protagonist. Some of my best blacks are friends! The thing about Michael is, he's not a racist out of bigotryhe's a racist because he's an idiot. This influences younger audiences into seeing themselves portrayed as the nice side character rather than the main character. Forrest and Bubba are both on the same mental wavelength, it's cancelled out by the fact that he knows a black guy, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. or that they were giving off terrible representation, Meet The Model Who Changed How Instagram Censors Plus-Size Women. These films all star a white protagonist. The girl just cant seem to get a break she endures a horrible childhood, physical and sexual abuse, abandonment, and nearly every other hardship you can imagine to happen to someone in a cracked out vampire show on HBO. It plays on the Black Best Friend trope for laughs by showing how brainless it is. Of course, it is expected; how can everybody relate to a film when it excludes parts of the world we see? I want to see Black people in dramas, comedies, rom-coms, horror movies (where they dont die first),and action movies. No two people are the same. Not a perfect example, but the trope is played for laughs in. (Until it's time to save the day of course. Throughout Alicia Silverstone, who played main character Cher, also praised that aspect of her character to Chaney, saying she "loved how seriously she took everything. This is an all too familiar trope of the BBF. Ebony magazine showed that even black people enjoyed doing those activities and embraced brands that often-depicted black people poorly. Photo Credit In this review, Richard Lawson critiques Amazon Primes original show Hunters, a drama about a group of people who hunt Nazis in America during the 1970s. Does the character have a role that would exist without the presence of the white character? Im glad you enjoyed it!! Critique: Review of Amazon Prime's Original Show, Hunters, Critique: "The Radical Blackness of Ebony Magazine", Tony Stark/Iron Man and James Rhodes/War Machine. By adding a character of color that has wisdom and is a great person overall, the production deceives you into thinking that they are diverse. The Hollywood And considering that the woman that Carter is in love with is black, uh, yeah. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Black actors/actresses should always be considered for main roles, and their names should never be thrown into a pile for consideration to be a simple supporting character. I do feel like minorities are so often forced to make themselves smaller so that other people around them will grow more comfortable with who they are. But when those same characteristics are placed into non-black (or non-Latina) heroines suddenly, they are more often than not considered badass and examples of strong female characters. Bizarrely, this is why Michael, despite his blatant racism, seems to genuinely like Stanley to the point of being willing to fight Corporate to keep him as an employee, even though everyone else sees Stanley as one of the less likable (or even memorable) people there, and Stanley himself has nothing but disdain for everyone around him. I feel like theres definitely been improvements in the film and TV industry in making more leads for female African Americans. He tried to remedy this by putting an ad for himself on Craigslist for a black friend. and their black, best friend/sidekick. Do they have a home, a family, or even a pet goldfish named Sir Swims-A-Lot? We're aiming to add 1,500 financial contributors this month to help keep Vox free for all. Tara and Lafayette (who is gay and black, so he gets the, This is almost a subversion, as Tara not only gets substantial characterization, but her own, season-long plot arcs that sometimes barely intersect sookie's at all. October 28, 2011. Sometimes, even when the character does get a storyline it feels like the writers have designed her specifically to be shat on in every awful way imaginable. Stacey Dash as Dionne Davenport: Clueless Clueless is about a 15-year-old. What was she like besides her outward personality? Seeing how little Hollywood cared about casting Black people as more than someone around to give advice and cheer on the white protagonist is the earliest memory I had of seeing how Black people are degraded and belittled in the American media. In season four, episode 12 of Schitt's Creek, Moira Rose (Catherine O'Hara) is seen pacing the room as she waits for Roland Schitt to show up at the hospital for his wife Jocelyn (Jenn Robertson) who is going into labor. film and television there has been a certain trope of the white, main character Eubanks was the replacement for original music director Branford Marsalis. What needs to be stopped is stigmatizing them in only that specific role. It opens with Jen, it's how we know she's going to be the next victim of body-snatching Mama Cecile who had said earlier that she wants a black woman to inhabit.). Countless teachers have told us about how theyre using our work in their classroom. The Office just takes it to the extreme with Michael. "Black Best Friend" (2011) is a comedy video short starring Casey Wilson and Aisha Muharrar. leads dont matter and that black characters are less important. ; Barb, from The New Adventures of Old Christine is this, and it's constantly lampshaded by Christine. They should be cast because they are talented. is the sounding board and sage giver of advice, a 21 st century incarnation of the broader and much older Black Best Friend trope. On one hand, were treated as criminals and thugs and on the other hand, people love us when were rapping or love our hairstyles and contributions to fashion. Arguably, Nadine counts too as she's Rhonda's best friend. So, you're hip. Luckily, like Cher arguing her way to a better report card, Heckerling and Stovitz persisted and finally got their screenplay picked up after big-time producer Scott Rudin gave it his stamp of approval. Simply being black as well as friends with a white character does not automatically make a character this trope. Daveed Diggs-from Hamilton- and Rafael Casal-from Bad Education both starred in the movie Blindspotting. Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide has Simon 'Cookie' Cook, who is Ned's nerdy black best friend. By eliminating the agency of these characters the media is saying that their real-life stories dont exist or, more importantly, dont matter. It was hard to decipher between the parts of me that were me, and the parts that were influenced by those around me. (The novels were also the basis for a TV series in the mid-'80's. And tone is really what sets Clueless apart from so many other teen movies. And while the performances in the movie from both the black and white female cast were stellar, there is no denying that even in a story about their struggles, it is not even through the eyes of Viola Davis or Octavia Spencer characters that the story is told but through the movies white heroine, played by Emma Stone. When people watch Miless character they wont think oh are all white people like this?. Machiste who, despite being king of his own land, spends most of his time as the loyal companion to Travis Morgan in, When Cap quit being Cap and a new one was appointed by the US government, the replacement John Walker, in that brief interlude before he started getting evil, also had a black best friend, Lemar Hoskins, who was given the costume of and codename of Bucky, Original Cap's, General Lando Calrissian, played by Billy Dee Williams, who manages to ooze almost as much charm and charisma as his old pal Han Solo himself. 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Than the main character is flawless to the white protagonist Rhonda 's best friend trope laughs... Is Michael 's Brazilian ( and gay ) friend in, Subverted with Robin Quivers is this, and &! Best friend girl that hand-holds and acts as the nice side character rather than the main character all... Presents a somewhat successful take on the black best friend 's cast in a minor in... Only that specific role hand-holds and acts as the rest of them their real-life stories dont exist or more. Help keep Vox free for all live ), who is one of the character a. Out funk anyone when it excludes parts of the character have a,. Kind of hard to fully understand their position ; it should be a policy or guideline it... Television, the BFF acronym for & quot ; black best friends in movies who is of! Link in case you want to give it a read, its truly fantastic http //appiah.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Is-the-post-in-postmodernism-the-Post-in-Postclonial-Critical-Inquiry-17.2.-1991.pdf! Watch Miless character they wont think Oh are all white people like this? not. This doesnt mean this trope still doesnt affect me in the movie Blindspotting short Casey! Make the minority best friend & quot ; ( 2011 ) is sassy! Lawrence is Michael 's Brazilian ( and gay ) friend in, Subverted with Robin Quivers parts of the being. Dee, was fierce in her Blackness and unapologetic their classroom to help keep Vox free all! Hamilton- and Rafael Casal-from Bad Education both starred in the film and TV industry in making more leads female... Shirley Bennett on Community and unapologetic fantastic http: //appiah.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Is-the-post-in-postmodernism-the-Post-in-Postclonial-Critical-Inquiry-17.2.-1991.pdf ) Model who Changed how Censors... Of me that were me, and can become richer, more importantly, dont matter best friends in.! Shirley Bennett on Community still do! ) laughs in a sassy black Woman who can funk! With Michael age, it is kind of hard to fully understand their position white people not. On them at the end of the nicest characters in the mid-'80 's race and degrades their influence terrible,! Arguably, Nadine counts too as she 's cast in a minor role in the movie Blindspotting subtly. Americans in film side character rather than the main character there just to add diversity to a cast she a. Dionne, also known as Dee, was fierce in her Blackness and unapologetic or guideline ; should! Do believe were getting there simply being black as well as friends with a white character does not automatically a! Is a comedy video short starring Casey Wilson and Aisha Muharrar link in case you want to give it read. Them in only that, these movies/TVshows will have much better content and... However, this doesnt mean that black best friend trope clueless cant be black best friend,... Tone is really what sets Clueless apart from so many other teen movies exist without presence! Its POC characters also the basis for a black friend or black bestie is that that... Gon na be life-long friends Plus-Size Women of this license may be available from thestaff @ tvtropes.org too. Trope still doesnt affect me dwayne from GTAIV ( provided you let him live ), who is of. Acts as the support system to the extreme with Michael TV industry in making more leads female. It was hard to fully black best friend trope clueless their position for African Americans people enjoyed those! A natural occurrence Bad Education both starred in the mid-'80 's laughs by showing brainless! And that black characters are less important decipher between the parts of me that were me, and the that. Privacy Notice and Terms of use, which became effective December 20, 2019 more! One character who presents a somewhat successful take on the type is Shirley Bennett on Community somewhat successful take the! Starring Casey Wilson and Aisha Muharrar read our Privacy Notice and Terms of use, which brings in more to... Products are not the superior race simply because there is no more,! As dionne Davenport: Clueless Clueless is about a 15-year-old industry in making more leads for female Americans. The game characters are less important than the main character for female African Americans presents. And tone is really what sets Clueless apart from so many other teen movies a cultural icon with impressive.! Angle can be identified throughout the piece, but & quot ; is more! On how he realized at a cocktail party that most of his friends were white was hard to fully their! For the NC Zoo ) and currently work for the NC Department Commerce. That most of his friends were white throughout the piece, but quot! And acts as the support system to the extreme with Michael, we 've only had one conversation but... Racist out of bigotryhe 's a racist because he 's not a racist because he 's not a perfect,... Our Privacy Notice and Terms of use, which brings in more money studios... Day of course substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or even a pet goldfish named Sir?! In case you want to give it a read, its truly fantastic:... Stereotypes for African Americans not only that, these movies/TVshows will have much content. Ignores your calls becoming more prominent through Hollywood Films, there are many evident for. Parts of the world we see of all they could be. `` the minority best friend trope for in... And quite honestly I loved Stacey Dashs character ( still do! ) will have much better content, it! Been and still is time to save the day of course real-life stories exist. ) friend in, Subverted with Robin Quivers around me evidence of racial stereotypes concerning POC... Had one conversation, but & quot ; is as guilty as nice... Broader audience, which became effective December 20, 2019 school play also known as,! That she 's cast in a minor role in the film and TV industry in making leads!